A Short-Run Weight Trend
Hello everyone.
We managed to get most of the Northern Outpost packed up this past four-day weekend thanks to the help of so many volunteers. We had several people drop by throughout the day Friday to help pack and load. Rebecca will be back up on Tuesday to oversee the professional movers pack up what is left.
We were blessed on Saturday by a neighbor of the Southern Outpost offering to help unload. Our friend Roger, whom I have known since college, was on his way down from Boulder to assist us, but Tom from across the street seemed eager to roll up his sleeves; I couldn't say "no". Rog did get to help move some of the more awkward items. Plus Roger was the only volunteer this weekend who stayed around long enough for us to feed him lunch to thank him for his help!
After enjoying a late lunch and Roger's company, Rebecca and I visited Xavier late Saturday afternoon. We walked in on a new nurse, Jody, a woman with four boys of her own and still full of energy, she radiated joy, fun and encouragement. She was just finishing up changing Xavier's diaper. As we approached, she was talking to herself and commenting on the color of the diaper's content. It was a good color and she was impressed. So, after introducing ourselves, we began to get to know Jody by talking stool. Xavier's liver function seems to be improving.
Last week, the day Xavier's isolet dome went down, the doctor and dietitian decided to increase Xavier's calorie count from 24 calories per ounce to 26 calories per ounce. This, in combination with being back in the isolet is hoped to help Xavier catch up on his weight gain.
Friday, he gained 35 grams, bringing him to 1485 grams. Saturday Xavier weighed n at 1490, a gain of 5 grams. Today, he weighs 1500 grams, or 3 pounds 4.9 ounces.
We ran into Dr. Liz, who rotated back into the NICU. She praised many things about Xavier's development, including saying Xavier looked like a "baby doll", but said she was not liking his slow growth. This has led to moving Xavier to a three hour feeding schedule. Though he is still on an ad lib schedule, the thought is he may take an extra feeding and get a few more calories during the day.
We are expecting another eye exam this week, probably Wednesday. Xavier will also be having a hearing test, but that, it was explained to us, will likely be the very day he leaves the NICU because those who do the test are volunteers and are always last minute in scheduling the test.
Xavier will also be getting his first round of inoculations soon.
Always, thank you for your prayers.
Rebecca helps prepare Xavier for his second immersion bath. He's is not all that happy about being wakened, handled and not being fed.
Though Xavier was not as stressed by being set into his bath this time, he was very upset about not being fed first and he wasn't buying the rationale of bath first, dress, then food. He did settle down eventually. We had a new tool in the tub this time, a little scrub brush to help exfoliate his scalp.
Temporarily free of all his wires and oxygen tubes, and clean and freshly dressed after his second immersion bath, Xavier posses with his mom and dad. Waiving at the camera, he thanks everyone for their prayers.